How to Understand End Times Matthew 24:1-3

The Major Messages of Jesus The Sermon of the Mount (Matthew 5-7) The Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25) The Upper Room Discourse (John 13-16)

The Sermon on the Mount The Sermon of the Mount deals with Israel’s preparation to enter the kingdom It was specifically for the Jews of Jesus’ day There is application for us by analogy and due to our future kingdom habitation… We are anticipating a comparable future with the same Lord

The Olivet Discourse The Olivet Discourse deals with Israel’s preparation for entering the kingdom The Olivet Discourse is dealing with what they will face –conditions The Sermon on the Mount was dealing with how to live -conduct

I. Discern the Relationship of the Past with the Future “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”” (Matthew 24:1–2, NKJV)

Consider the overall plan of God God is responsible for all of creation Man is responsible for his fall & earth’s curse God has provided for man’s redemption God will bring about complete restoration

Consider the fulfillment of the major promises The seed of the woman promise (Gen 3:15) The Noahic Covenant (Gen 9) The Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12, 15) The Mosaic Covenant (Deut 28-29) The Palestinian Covenant (Deut 30) The Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7) The New Covenant (Jer 31)

Consider the unfolding of the prophetic plan Israel is God’s special people through whom the Messiah comes & the Kingdom comes The Church is God’s special people through whom the Gospel will go forth to all nations & they will reign with Christ in the Kingdom The Kingdom is the culmination of God’s promises to Israel... including Messianic rule Abram to X 2200 yrs/ CA 2000 yrs/ K 1000 y

The Olivet Discourse is the Master Outline for end time events It is the “most important single passage of prophecy” (Hal Lindsey) It came directly from Jesus immediately after He was rejected by His own people The OD gives Jesus’ last words to Israel The Upper Room Discourse gives Jesus’ first words to the church (one day later) Key point: The OD is exclusively for Israel!

B. Recognize the appropriate theological grid Some helpful definitions: -A theological system is an interpretive grid for understanding all of Scripture -Dispensationalism sees a clear distinction between God’s program for Israel and His dealings with the church -Covenant Theology has no such distinction

Elements of Dispensationalism -Dispensation –the administration of God’s rule within a given era in His eternal program -Dispensations are not periods of time but different administrations of the outworking of God’s purpose -The way of salvation is the same in all disp. -God’s redemptive plan remains unchanged, but the way He administers it will vary…

Major Dispensational Implications -Israel was the focus of God’s redemptive plan in the previous dispensation -The Church is the focus of the current disp. -The Kingdom (the thousand year reign of Christ) is the focus of a future dispensation in which Israel will again play a pivotal role Dispens. teaches that all of God’s remaining covenant promises to Israel will be fulfilled lit

II. Consider the Concern for the Timing of Predicted Events “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”” (Matthew 24:3, NKJV)

A. The first question relates to the temple’s demise The context of this discourse: -Jesus presented Himself as King (Mt 21) -He was recognized as the coming King -He cleansed the temple & was resisted -He cursed the fig tree indicating His authority and implications for Israel -The leaders questioned His authority

Context continued… -The various leaders resisted and rejected X -Jesus pronounced judgment on the leaders -Jesus indicates the seriousness of their rejection -Then they went out of the temple and surveyed the buildings of the temple

The concern for the fulfillment of the prediction -The potential for destruction was very real -The nature of the predicted damage was very extensive -The fulfillment has been historically exact -Matthew does not record the answer to this first question –concerned with kingdom -Luke addresses it more directly…

Luke 21:20-22 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.” (NKJV)

Luke 21:23-24 “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (NKJV)

B. The second question relates to the return of Christ The second question seems unexpected -It focuses on a sign that indicates Christ’s coming -This indicates they knew He was going away and returning “for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ” (Matt 23:39, NKJV)

The second question may look like two questions -The main focus is on “what sign?” - Since sign is singular it indicates one sign -The reference to His coming is likely associated with the end of the age -His coming indicates the person & event -The end of the age indicates the time

Our concern is how the events of End Times fit together -We know Jesus ascended and will return -We know the church expects to be raptured -We know a time of tribulation is coming -We know a millennial kingdom is coming -We also have questions about when things will happen The Olivet Discourse helps with this…